The new free exhibition will be able to view from the 12th August until the 1st October.
The BFI will take visitors behind-the-scenes of of LAIKA, the world’s foremost pioneer in stop-motion animation with its free and immersive exhibition LAIKA: Frame X Frame, presented alongside Stop Motion: Celebrating Hand-Crafted Animation on the Big Screen a new season at the BFI.
LAIKA: Frame X Frame will take a closer look at the stories that the company has created and the unparalleled level of detail in the physical puppets, intricately crafted sets, costumes and props behind films including Coraline and ParaNorman.
Using assets from every department of the Portland-based studio, the display will tell the story through the lens of its five feature films to date, Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and Missing Link (2019).
Each of the films will be celebrated through one key frame within the exhibition surrounded by a constellation of artefacts, encompassing illustrated concept and character design, artistic inspirations, storyboards, costumes, puppets, props, sets and dynamic digital content.
Meanwhile, further cabinets and drawers will allow guests to unlock even more treasures, illustrating how a LAIKA film comes together.
The display will also feature new scenic reproductions, built at a ‘human scale’, will transport guests from the real world into Coraline’s Other Garden as they enter the exhibition.
Highlights will include:
- Coraline (2009): character puppets, including Coraline, Cat, Other Father, Other Wybie, Taffy Monster and the Scottie dogs, early look development maquettes of Coraline, Cat, Wybie, Other Father and Other Mother, paint test maquettes of Spink and Forcible, Other Mother puppet development pieces, Other World bridge, garden gate, nose tree and mantis tractor props, plus Real World and Other World Pink Palace apartment props.
- ParaNorman (2012): zombie puppets alongside their Puritan counterparts, a Norman armature, Norman maquettes, Neil, Alvin and Salma puppets, Aggie Prendergast paint tests and development pieces, a Town Hall cupola set piece and a scaled prop of Mitch Downe’s van.
- The Boxtrolls (2014): puppets of Eggs, Winnie, Snatcher and boxtrolls Fish and Shoe, along with early development maquettes of Eggs, Winnie, Snatcher, Fish and other boxtrolls, the film’s pneumatic tubes set, plus the Cheese Guild, Market Square and cavern props.
- Kubo and the Two Strings (2016): puppets including Kubo, Moon Beast, Monkey and Origami Samurai, plus Kubo and Monkey development maquettes, VFX character puppets and maquettes, a Taiko Drummer diorama, and the Central Avenue set and market props.
- Missing Link (2019): puppets and maquettes of Sir Lionel Frost, Mr. Link and Adelina, plus Link and Yeti puppets on rig, the Pullman Train internal set, Pullman Train development maquettes, environment maquettes and other film props.
- A sneak peek at LAIKA’s forthcoming sixth feature, Wildwood (2025).